New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management (Captive Wild Animals)

Equip yourself with the skills, knowledge, and attributes needed to ensure the positive welfare of captive wild animals, and manage the day-to-day operations of wildlife or zoo keeping. Gain industry experience and contacts at an approved zoo facility within New Zealand.

Programme overview

This distance-learning programme can turn your dream of working in the zoo industry into reality. Develop your knowledge and understanding of how to maintain the safety and welfare of animals, and yourself, in a captive wild animal environment. This includes feeding, safety and hygiene practices, natural behaviours, enrichment and life histories. Learn to recognise and respond to health issues and emergencies involving captive wild animals. You’ll learn about what role captive wild animal facilities play in society, both in today’s world and historically, and you’ll explore the impact of zoos on conservation locally and globally.

Highlights

The only qualification in New Zealand that can train you to become a zookeeper.

Recognised by all the main zoos in New Zealand as the entry-level qualification to work in this industry.

As a distance learning programme, you have the benefit of 280 hours at an approved zoological park where you can apply what you’ve learnt about husbandry to a wide variety of exotic species.

Take part in three compulsory block courses, each six days at our Mt. Albert campus, learning crucial skills and gaining knowledge in face-to-face lectures, meeting students from other zoos around New Zealand and attending field trips at Auckland Zoo.

Block Courses

Block courses start early on the first day, so if you’re travelling from outside Auckland, we advise that you arrive a day early to account for any travel delays.

Each block course ends at 5.45pm at the latest on the last day.

Tea and coffee are provided throughout the course however food can be purchased from various outlets on campus. Please be advised that some block courses take place outside regular semester therefore some food options may be limited.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide accommodation for those travelling from outside of Auckland, however there is plenty of accommodation available within the West Auckland area.

Work Experience

This programme has specific work experience requirements. You must obtain a total of 280 hours structured work experience at an approved facility in the year of study, split between three different animal groups.

At least 40 hours must be with invertebrates, fish, amphibians, or reptiles.

At least 40 hours must be with birds.

At least 80 hours must be with mammals, with a minimum of 16 hours with at least one highly dangerous animal.

You must organise and confirm your own work placement with an approved New Zealand zoo facility in addition to meeting the programme admission requirements before you can enrol in this programme (with the exception of Auckland Zoo). We require written consent from the facility/facilities where you will undertake your work experience. Unlike other placements, Auckland Zoo placements are arranged in conjuction with Unitec during your application process. If you plan on applying for a placement at Auckland Zoo, please do no not contact them directly.

Each zoo has different age requirements and final application dates so it is a good idea to contact zoos as soon as possible to express your interest. For example, Auckland Zoo's minimum age is 18.

We have two types of approved zoo facilities - those who can provide the full scope of animal experience required and others - who are marked with an asterix (*) - that can't provide the full scope of animal experience required, in these cases you need to contact other approved facilities to gain experience in areas that can't be accommodated by these smaller facilities. Here is a list of all approved zoo facilities and contacts.

Admission requirements

For this programme, you will need the following:

1. 36 credits at NCEA Level 2 including 12 credits in English

2. 12 credits at NCEA Level 1 in a relevant science subject

3. Provide evidence you have been accepted by one or more approved zoo facilities in New Zealand to complete 280 hours work experience with them. Work experience must be completed within your year of study and must include minimum hours on specific animal groups (see application information)

4. If English is not your first language, you will need one or more of the following:

Have achieved NCEA Level 3 and New Zealand University entrance

Be able to provide evidence you satisfy our criteria for existing English proficiency

Have achieved at least one English proficiency outcome in the last two years

Don’t have NCEA? We also accept:

The New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Level 3) or an equivalent qualification; or

Provide sufficient evidence to be eligible for special or discretionary admission.

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